‘Eleven’ was supposed to be killed off in ‘Stranger Things’
This image released by Netflix shows Millie Bobby Brown in a scene from “Stranger Things.” (Netflix via AP)
(Editor’s Note: This post contains spoilers from season 1 and 2 of Netflix’s “Stranger Things.”)
Millie Bobby Brown’s performance as the bald-haired telekinetic kid “Eleven” in Netflix’s “Strangers Things” is certainly one for the ages.
But if the hit show’s original script materialized, the now iconic character would have been killed off way too soon.
Speaking to CinemaBlend, one of the show’s creators, Ross Duffer, revealed that “Eleven” was initially planned to perish—and stay dead—after sacrificing herself in the finale of the first season.
“Maybe I shouldn’t say this because I like to pretend that it was all planned out, but it was originally pitched as a limited series,” Duffer shared.
“So it was like, Eleven was gonna sacrifice herself and save the world and then that was gonna be it, because there was a moment where limited series were a big deal.”
Ross, who co-helmed the show with brother Matt, admitted that they didn’t envision the show to reach the success and popularity that it currently has.
“This is where the business side comes in. When we started pitching it, it was like ‘we don’t make money off of limited series,’” he said.
“And I remember when we went into Netflix and we pitched this they were like ‘well, we like this but how could it keep going?’ And you’re just sort of riffing in the moment and we were like ‘well Will’s back from this other dimension and he’s not doing very well.’ And they were like ‘great!’”
With the network pushing for more seasons—much to the delight of millions of fans around the world—the show picked up its second saga with more sci-fi adventures in the mysterious “Upside Down.”
Meanwhile, a cliff-hanger scene featuring the villainous “Mind Flayer” at the end of season 2 promises an even “stranger” story arc for season 3.
Currently, Netflix has yet to officially announce an air date for the third season of the sci-fi hit. Khristian Ibarrola /ra
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